Astros Rally After Wild Pitch On Strikeout, Beat Athletics
HOUSTON (AP) — Evan Gattis hit an RBI single to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning keyed by a wild pitch on a strikeout, leading the Houston Astros over the Oakland Athletics 4-3 Wednesday.
The Astros began the day two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card slot. Houston swept the three-game series and next opens a three-game set at AL West-leading Texas.
A's starter Ross Detwiler gave up three hits and left after the seventh with a 3-1 lead.
Reliever Liam Hendriks (0-3) got two quick outs in the eighth before George Springer tripled. Alex Bregman then struck out, but reached when the pitch got away, allowing Springer to score.
Jose Altuve tripled home the tying run and Gattis singled for the lead.
Michael Feliz (8-1) pitched a scoreless eighth. Ken Giles closed for his seventh save.
The Athletics have lost 12 of their last 18 games.
Detwiler had given up 14 runs and 23 hits in his previous three starts. He shut down Houston, striking out seven. Carlos Correa hit an RBI double for the only run off Detwiler.
The A's got all three of their runs in the second off Mike Fiers. Jake Smolinski hit a two-run triple and Bruce Maxwell had a sacrifice fly.
After trading outfielder Coco Crisp to Cleveland earlier in the day, the A's called up Joey Wendle from Triple-A. In his major league debut, he went 0 for 4 and scored a run.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea (sore back) will miss his next scheduled start on Sunday. He left his start last Monday vs. Houston in the fourth inning. Kendall Graveman, who allowed three runs in seven innings in a loss to the Astros on Tuesday night, will start in place of Manaea.
Astros: INF Marwin Gonzalez left with discomfort in his right hamstring. In the bottom of the fifth, he hit a flyball onto Tal's Hill in deep center field and started limping after rounding first. He was replaced by A.J. Reed in the top of the sixth. Gonzalez missed several games four weeks ago with right hamstring soreness.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Andrew Triggs (1-1, 4.39 ERA) starts Friday night at home against Boston. He picked up his first career win in his last start, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out eight in six innings against St. Louis.
Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (9-12, 4.55 ERA) starts at Texas on Friday night. He is going for his third straight win but has struggled against the Rangers this season, going 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in four starts.
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